Moenjodaro; The City of Dead

The word “Moenjodaro” means “The City of Dead”. This ancient city was discovered in 1922 by a British archaeologist Sir John Marshal. It belonged to the great Indus valley civilization which came into existence about 5000 years ago in the region irrigated by river Indus and it's tributaries, the region is now called Pakistan.

Moenjodaro was a well-built and developed city with almost all the streets 33 feet wide, a proper system of sanitation and well-planned market places. Its script has not been deciphered. It is believed that most of the people of this city worshiped idols because numerous idols were found during the excavation. Some of these idols were wearing cotton clothes which proves that the people of dead city were well versed in weaving cotton. They had trade links with far off places and imported Copper, Silver, Bronze and Tin from Central Asia, Afghanistan and Kharasan as the Indus valley itself didn't produce these metals. These metals were then used to prepare weapons, jewelry and other items of daily use. Probably the use of iron was not known to the people of ancient city. Their attitude towards the battle field shows that they were very peace loving. As a result the invaders from Central Asia conquered their land and many of the aborigines fled to other parts of Sub-continent.

Moenjodaro was situated at the bank of river Indus and it is believed that floods caused its destruction about 2500 years ago. Today the city is visited by tourists and archaeologists from all over the world. It is located in District Larkana at a distance of about 28 km from Larakana and 107 km from sukkur. It lies on 27o 19' 30.36" North latitude and 68o 08' 08.77" East longitutide at an elevation of about 164 ft from sea level. The articles from the ancient cities can be seen in all the major museums of Pakistan. The government of Pakistan is striving to preserve this national asset. It seems that in addition to the river Indus there was another large river which parallel and west of the Indus in the third and fourth millennium B.C. This was the ancient Ghaggra-Hakra River or Sarasvati of the Rig Veda. Its lost banks are slowly being laid out by researchers. Along its bed, a whole new set of ancient towns and cities have been discovered.

Lahore

Lahore, the city found by Loh the son of Rama about five thousand years ago, is called ”The City of Gardens” or ”The Garden of Moughals”. It has been the capital of some of the most glorious empires of the past. Ayaz made it the capital of Ghaznavid Empire while the Moughal emperors Akbar and Jehangir used the city as the capital of Moughal Empire which consisted of almost whole of sub-continent. Lahore also served as the capital of Punjabi Empire ruled by Ranjit Singh.

Lahore is the capital of Punjab province and is situated near the river Ravi. Today it serves as the center of all cultural activities and is recognized as the cultural heart of Punjab. The native language spoken here is Punjabi. Being a mixture of Urdu and pure Punjabi it is also termed as Lahori Punjabi. With a population of 10 million people it is the second most populous country of Pakistan, 5th amongst all the South Asian cities and 26th in the world. Following are some of the most exciting places in Lahore:

Badshahi Mosque:

Badshahi mosque, the second largest mosque of Pakistan (Faisal mosque being the first),can accommodate up to 10000 worshipers at a time. It was constructed during the reign of Moughal emperor Aurangzeb Alamgeer. It is also regarded as the fifth largest mosque in the world. The Moughal rulers had a special interest in calligraphy, therefore eye catching patterns of the Quranic verses can be seen on the walls of Badshahi mosque.

Masjid Mahabat Khan:

Masjid Mahabat Khan, located inside the walled city, was built by Mahabat Khan a powerful general of Moughal army. It was built in the 17th century during the reign of Shah Jehan and Aurangzeb Alamgeer. The beauty and splendor of the Mosque tells us about the religiosity and architectural taste of the Moughal Emperors and statesmen. The mosque is rectangular in shape, has two main minarets, a number of smaller minarets and is spread over an area of 30,155sq feet.

Food Street

In Lahore a whole bazaar has been dedicated to food lovers. Known as the food street, it is situated near the Anarkali bazaar. Food lovers from all over Pakistan come here and enjoy various types of traditional dishes. The market remains open through out day and night, and whole of the year except during the holy month of Ramadan. Being one of the largest food markets in Asia it is regarded as a unique tourist attraction.

Shahi Qila:

The ancient fort, known as the Shahi Qila (Royal Fort), is situated on the north western side of the city. Its existing structure was built by Akbar, the great Moughal empror of sub-continent.

Shalimar Gardens:

Shalimar gardens were built by Shah Jehan. They have been built in the shape of an oblong parallelogram. The gardens have three terraces built on the top of one another and 410 fountains.

Other Buildings:

The architectural marvels of British era include the GPO building, GC university and Lahore Railway Station. Among modern buildings the Lahore Museum is remarkable.

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The Ancient Gandhara

The Indus Valley Civilization came into existence about 5000 years ago. A number of invaders from Central Asia, Afghanistan and ancient Greece attacked this beautiful land and influenced the local art and culture. As a result a mixed culture cropped up and a magnificient art flourished in the reign of Maharaja Kanishk. The kingdom of maharajah was called Gandhara. It was situated in the vale of Peshawar, the Potohar platue and on the Kabul river. Today the area stretching from Peshawar to Rawalpindi in the north of Pakistan is considered as Gandhara.

The capital of this ancient kingdom was Taxila. It was considered as the center of cultural activities and education. A grand university was also present here. People from all over the subcontinent visited the place for trade and to quench their thirst for knowledge. The ancient kingdom excelled in the field of fine arts specially in the making of stone statues. The statues of Mahatama Gautam Budha are quite impressive and tourists from all over the world visit this place to see these magnificent pieces of art. The cultural outlook of the place was superb even 2500 years ago but the invaders caused a lot of devastation and the Gandharan civilization came to an end. Jayapala was the last great king of this dynasty. His empire extended from west of Kabul to the river Sutlej. However, this expansion of kingdom coincided with the rise of the powerful Ghaznavid Empire under Sabukatigin. Defeated twice by Sabukatigin and then by Mahmud of Ghazni in the Kabul valley, Jayapala committed suicide. Anandapala, a son of Jayapala, moved his capital near Nandana in the Salt Range. In 1021 the last king of this dynasty, Trinocanapala was assassinated by his own troops which spelled the end of Gandhara.


Mardan the Frontier's largest city is called the land of Gandhara as it was the center of this civilization. The remains of civilization include Takht-i-Bhai, Sehri Bahlol, Shahbaz Garhi, Jamal Garhi, Sawal Dher, Mrkha Sanda etc. The Takht-i-Bhai archeological site is one of the most magnificent of Buddist remains in Pakistan. It is situated at the Mardan-Swat road at a distance of 13km from the city and is accessible from Islamabad and Peshawar, thanks to the Islamabad-Peshawar motorway. Pieces of Gandhara art can be seen in all the major museums of Pakistan, specially the Taxila museum. The city of Taxila is only 40km away from the Rawalpindi city and can easily be approached either by plane or by road. The government of Pakistan is striving to preserve this national asset.

The Great Rohtas Fort

Rumored to be imperishable, the great strong hold of Rohtas was built by Sher Shah Suri to crush the local Potohar and Gukkhar tribes and to prevent Emperor Hamayun from entering Shah,s domains. It has been built on the Grand Trunk Road at a distance of 16 km from Jehlum (a site chosen by Sher Shah himself), blocking the route from Quetta to Lahore. The fort is a beautiful blend of Indian and Pakhtun architecture. The elements of Hindu architecture include balconies and decorations while the utilitarian style of construction has been taken from Pakhtun architecture.

The fort has twelve gates including four trap gates which are in the direct line of fire of the bastions built at irregular intervals. It can accommodate a 30000 strong force. The length of outer wall is 5.2 km while it's height ranges from 10 to 18 meters. The fortress is irregular in it's shape. The cost of construction of Rohtas Fortress was about Rs. 3425000 as per Waqiat-e- Jahangiri. The 12 gates are a s follows: 1. Sohail Gate, 2. Kabuli Gate, 3. Shishi Gate, 4. Langar Khani Gate, 5. Talaqi Gate, 6. Khwas Khani Gate, 7. Gatali Gate, 8. Tulla Mori Gate, 9. Pipalwala Gate, 10. Sar Gate, 11. Shah Chandwali Gate, 12. Mori or Kashmiri Gate. There are 3 Baolis in the fort. These were made by cutting deep into the lime rock. Near the Kabuli gate there is a mosque named as the Shahi Masjid. The mosque has been decorated with beautiful round designs in which Islamic verses are written in Naqsh script. The stone carvings and calligraphic pieces of art are truly remarkable. For decorational purposes glazed tiles and plaster have also been used. Stunned by it's splendor and strength the Emperor Jehangir said:

“This fort was founded in a cleft and the strength of it cannot be imagined”



The fort was designated a World Heritage Site in 1997. Rohtas fort can be visited easily from Lahore via the Grand Trunk Road.

Multan; The City of Saints

The ancient city of Multan is known as “The City of Saints” due to the large number of Sufis and shrines belonging to the city. It is situated near river Chenab, in Punjab province of Pakistan and is the capital of Multan district. The population of district is about 4 million.
During the famous Mahabharata war Multan was the capital of Trigarta empire. The ancient name of the city was Kashtpur. The recent name (Multan) has originated from the word Mitrasthana. It came under Muslim rule in 712 A.D when Muhammad Bin Qasim, at the age of 17, annexed Sindh. Before this annexation a Muslim general Mohlab also conquered the city in 664 A.D but this capture was not permanent. It also remained a part of Ghaznavid empire, Moughal empire, Durrani empire and the Punjabi empire ruled by Ranjit Singh. After the Anglo-Sikh war the British took over the city. Finally in 1947, upon the independence of Pakistan, it became a part of the Punjab province of Pakistan. Following are a few of the most exciting places of Multan:

Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam:

One of the most remarkable shrines in Multan is the tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam. The tomb is an architectural marvel from the Pre-Moughal era. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the Sub-continent visit the shrine and pay homage to the saint. The dome of this beautiful building is the second largest in the world. The tomb was built by Ghias-ud-din Toughlak for his own self but after his death his son handed it over to the descendants of Shah Rukn-e-Alam.

Tomb of Yousaf Shah Gardezi:

The mausoleum of Yousaf Shah Gardezi is rectangular, domeless and decorated with glazed tiles. Shah Yousaf converted a number of locals to Muslims and according to a legend he arrived in Multan about nine hundred years ago, riding a lion, all the way from Gardez (Afghanistan).

Other Places:

Other beautiful places include Sun temple, shrine of Baha-ud-din Zikria Multani, shrine of Musa Pak Shaheed and the Suraj temple.

Indus Valley Civilization

Introduction:

The Indus Valley Civilization originated nearly 5000 years ago in the area irrigated by the mighty Indus River and it's tributaries. This land is presently known as Pakistan. Two major archeological sites which remind us of this once-great civilization are Moenjodaro and Harrapa. These sites were discovered as a result of an excavation carried out under the supervision of a British archeologist Sir John Marshall, in 1922.

Moenjodaro means City of the Dead. It is situated at a distance of 27km from Larkana, in Sindh. Harrapa is a site 24km away from the city of Sahiwal, in Punjab. In spite of a distance of 650km between the two cities, both are similar many ways. The people of these cities were very civilized and urbane. Indus Valley Civilization came to an end about 2500 years ago as a result of floods.

Architecture:

An impressive architectural taste is visible in the buildings of the Indus Valley Civilization. The cities were well planned and were developed on large areas. Most of the roads were 33feet wide. Proper sanitation and drainage system was present and the drains were kept covered. Every house had a bathroom and a well. Basements were built to counter with the harsh weather conditions. God owns were used for storage purposes. In short the cities of Moenjodaro and Harraapa reveal the engineering skill and vast knowledge of its inhabitants.

Religious Beliefs:

During the excavation a number of idols made of metals, wood, clay and stone were discovered. Therefore it is believed that most of the people of ancient Indus Valley Civilization worshiped idols while the others worshiped sun, moon and the stars. Special temples for collective prayers were also present. The dead were buried in grave yards.

Dressing and Fashions:

Archeologists say that the people of Moenjodaro and Harrapa were quite trendy. Jewelry and garments were weaknesses of the ancient women. A machine resembling a spinning wheel has also been discovered. Some of the idols found from Indus Valley were wearing cotton outfits which shows that the people of ancient cities were well versed in weaving cotton. Ornaments including bangles, rings, ear rings etc were imported from Central Asia.

Weapons and Wars:

The people of Indus Valley were not bellicose at all and loved peace. This is clear from their attitude towards the battle field. Consequently, the warriors from Central Asia conquered the Indus valley and a number of these warriors settled here permanently. The native people fled to other parts of sub-continent. People of ancient Moenjodaro and Harrapa used swords, knives, daggers and axes in the battle. Copper and Bronze were the two main metals used to manufacture weapons.

Trade and Commerce:

It is believed that the people of this civilization had a strong system of trade. The traded with far off nations. Although the ancient valley didn't produce metals like Silver, Bronze and Copper but articles and jewelry made of these metals were quite common in Moenjodaro and Harrapa. These metals were probably imported from Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia and Kharasan. The native people traveled frequently for business and trade.

Fauna:

The walls of ancient cities of Moenjodaro and Harrapa bear paintings of various animals like snakes, lions, buffaloes, fish, elephants and birds like eagles , sparrows and pigeons which shows that these animals existed in the area. Some seals and coins also have sketches of animals and birds engraved on them.

Chitral Valley

Chitral Valley:

The Chitral valley, located in the northern region of Pakistan, is one of the most remarkable places in the world when it comes to natural scenic beauty. Its picturesque mountains, beautiful springs, Juniper forests, friendly people and rivers teeming with the famous Trout fish are truly spellbinding. Alexander the great passed through this region in 327 B.C and left behind the signs of his culture.

Location:

The Chitral valley is situated amidst the mighty mountains of The Hindukush range. This mountain range is 322 km long. The chitral valley is separated from China by the Hunza region and from the Soviet Union by a narrow part of Wakhan, a province of Afghanistan. Chitral river flows near the Chitral district.

Facts and Figures:

Coordinates: 35°53′N 71°48′E

Elevation: 1278-7700 meters

Area: 14504 square meters

Population: 1,59,230

Religion: Mostly ISLAM

Local Language: Khowar

Famous Sport: Polo

Area Code: 0943

Currency: Pakistani Rupee

Time Zone: PST (UTC+5)

Dress:

The people of Chitral valley mostly wear "Shalwar Kameez" which is the national dress of Pakistan. Women wear "Duppatas" and Shawls along with "Shalwar Kameez". The most popular head dress of the Chitrali men is the woolen "Pakol". In winters, the men wear long baggy coats having long sleeves known as the "Shuqa". These coats are also made out of wool.

The people of Kafir Kalash distinguish themselves by wearing specific woolen hats with feathers and/or small metallic bells. The Kalashi women wear an eye catching head gear which consists of a black cloth with shells, buttons and feathers on it.

People of Kafir Kalash

Sports:

The traditional sport of Chitral is Polo. World's highest Polo ground (Shandur Polo ground) is also present in this area, where the Shandur Polo festival takes place. Around 15,000 people visit this place during the Shandur Polo festival which lasts for about a week. Football is also very popular in the valley. A number of football clubs are present in the Chitral district.

Approach Routes:

The valley is easily accessible by air from the historical city of Peshawar. Most of the land routes are over mountain passes. Towards the North Lowari pass leads 365 km to Peshawar.To the east, there is a 405 km (252 mi) route to Gilgit over the 3,719 m (12,201ft) Shandur Pass.
And in the west, the Dorah Pass provides an additional route to Afghanistan.

Factbook of Pakistan

Introduction:

Pakistan Is an Islamic Republic present in South Asia. It shares a border with India in east, China in the north east, Afghanistan in the west and has a 1,046 kilometers (650 mile) coastline along the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman in the south. Pakistan has four provinces namely Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Sarhad (N.W.F.P). Their respective capitals are Quetta, Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi. In addition to these provinces is the Federally Administered Northern Area (FANA), which is divided into the districts of Diamer, Ghanche, Ghizer, Gilgit and Skardu. There are also seven Federally Administered Tribal Areas. (FATA). The land presently called Pakistan was a part of India during the British reign and gained independence on 1947 as a result of the Pakistan movement led by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Pakistan is the only nucear state amongst the Muslim nations.

Facts & figures:

Official Name:Islamic Republic of Pakistan Father of Nation:Mohammad Ali Jinnah

Capital:Islamabad National Poet:Allama Iqbal Population:165,900,000 (year2008)

President:Asif Ali Zardari Area:796,095 km2Prime Minister:Yousaf Raza Gilani

Currency:Pakistani RupeeChief Justice:Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry

Largest City:KarachiChairman Senate:Farooq Hamid Naek

Pakistan Map

Etymology:

The word "Pakistan" has a Persian origin and it means "The Land of Pure" which refers to the spirituality and ethics of it's people. This term was coined by Choudhary Rahmat Ali, an active supporter of the Pakistan Movement, in 1933. The word Pakistan is a beautiful combination of P (from the word Punjab), A (from the word Afghania), K (from the word Kashmir), and TAN (from the word Balochistan)

Pakistani Food

Pakistan is a land of diverse cultural values where people of each of the four provinces, namely Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Sarhad, have there own unique taste in food and dressing. The staple food of Pakistan is wheat and rice. The people of Sarhad have a special liking for meat and fruits (both fresh and dry). In the costal areas fish is the favorite. Milk, Lassi and other dairy products are liked in the province of Punjab. Lassi is also regarded as the national drink of Pakistan. Dishes like Sajji and Balti meat are preferred by the people of Balochistan and Sarhad. The special dish of Sindh is the Sindhi Baryani and that of Kashmir is the Kashmiri Tea and Chapel Kebabs. As a whole the people of Pakistan like food full of spices.

National anthem:

Approved in: June, 1954
Verses Composed by: Hafeez Jullundhri
Tune Composed by: Ahmed G. Chagla
Duration: 80 seconds

Area:

Punjab Province: 205,344 Sq. Km
Sindh Province: 140,914 Sq. Km
North West Frontier Province (NWFP): 74,521 Sq. Km
Balochistan Province: 347,190 Sq. Km
Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA): 27,220 Sq. Km
Islamabad (Capital): 906 Sq. Km
Total Area: 796,095 Sq. Km

Education:

Literacy rate of Pakistan is about 55.1% (2004). The educational system consists of the following levels: primary level education (grade 1-5), middle level education (grade 6-8), higher education (grade 9 & 10), intermediate education (grade 11 & 12) and university level education. Some facts about educational institutes are:

• Primary schools: 150,963

• Middle schools: 14,595

• High schools: 9,808

• Arts & science colleges: 798

• Professional colleges: 161

• Universities: 35 (10 in Private sector)

In addition to these institutes a number of Madrissahs are also working in the country providing religious education and boarding facilities free of cost. Government of Pakistan is trying to introduce reforms in the Madrissahs system.

Rivers:

The major rivers of Pakistan include Indus, Jehlum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej.

The Indus: 2896 km.
Jhelum: 825 km.
Chenab: 1242 km.
Ravi: 901 km.
Sutlej: 1551 km.

Health:

Some basic facts about health facilities in Pakistan are:
Hospitals: 830
Beds: 86,921
Doctors (registered): 74,229
Dentists (registered): 2,938
Nurses (registered): 22,810

Structure of government:

Pakistan has a federal structure of government. The Pakistani Parliament consists of the National Assembly and the Senate. Members of the National Assembly are directly elected and their tenure is five years. The National Assembly determines the major policy issues and passes an annual budget and legislation. It elects the Prime Minister from among its members. The Prime Minister forms the cabinet from among members of the Assembly and the Senate. Provinces have their own elected legislative assemblies and Chief Ministers. The Provincial Assemblies elect the majority of the members of the Upper House.

Culture:

In the ancient Indus valley (sub-continent) people belonging to different nations and cultures arrived and settled permanently. They belonged to Persia, Tooran, Afghanistan, Central Asia and Greece. They brought and promoted their own customs, traditions and culture with them. As a result a mixed culture cropped up. Urdu, the national language of Pakistan is a mixture of various languages like Turkish, Hindi, Arabic, Persian and English.

Pakistan has a rich cultural heritage along with high regard for Islamic values. Although the people of the tribal areas are still conservative to some extent and follow Islamic code of conduct strictly, in the urban areas a more broad-minded class is emerging. The Pakistani government actively supports all cultural activities. Pakistan occupies 46th rank on the AT. Kearney/FP Globalization Index. The music industry of Pakistan is flourishing at a great pace. Pakistani music ranges from mystic to the modern rock. The mystical poetry of Sindh and Balochistan is truly fascinating. Qawali is also famous in the country. Qawali is a replacement of Hindu Bhajans devised by the Chishtia group for the uplift of Islam in the sub-continent. Remarkable poets include Allama Iqbal (Urdu & Persian), Rehman Baba (Pashto), Sachal Sarmast. Most of the Pakistani people have an access to the Western and Indian media. During the Muslim era the Muslim rulers built a number of splendid buildings like:

• Tomb of Jehangir, Lahore.

• Shahi Mosque, Lahore.

• Shahi Fort, Lahore.

• Shalimar Gardens, Lahore.

• Chaburgi, Lahore.

• Wazir Khan Mosque, Lahore.

• Jamia Masjid, Thatta.

• Mohabat Khan Mosque.

• The Fort of rohtas and Attock.

The modern architecture of the country is a combination of pre-Islamic architectural style, the Mughal art and, to some extent, the British style. The government of Pakistan is striving to preserve these sites.

Exports And imports:

The major exports of Pakistan include Raw cotton, Cotton products, Leather, Leather products, Surgical equipment, Sports goods and carpets etc Tea, milk and milk products, petroleum and it's products, heavy machinery, agricultural machinery, steel and iron are the major imports.

Sports:

The national game of Pakistan is Hockey while cricket is the most popular among Pakistani people. Polo is particularly famous in the northern regions of the country. The sporting activities have decreased since the attack on Sir Lankan cricket team in 2009.